Update: Broncos GM denies report they’re pursuing McCarron via trade

Quarterback AJ McCarron #5 of the Cincinnati Bengals passes against the Denver Broncos during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

UPDATE (9:52 a.m.)

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway took to Twitter 0n Wednesday morning to deny a report that the club had contacted the Cincinnati Bengals with interest in trading for quarterback A.J. McCarron.

In the post, Elway called the report “fake news” and that any rumor the Broncos have an interest in any other quarterback besides those on its roster — Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Kyle Sloter, and Chad Kelly — are “irresponsible.”

Rumor of us being interested in anyone other than the QBs we have is another example of irresponsible, fake news!!

The news comes after what appears to be a growing dissatisfaction with the decision between Broncos current quarterback options Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, Clough said, not only among the Denver fan base but also the club’s brass.

“Obviously, they’re somewhat disenchanted that Trevor Siemian has not taken charge of the quarterback competition and Paxton Lynch seems not to have advanced much from the problems he had in his rookie year of 2016,” Clough said.

At age 26, McCarron would likely become not only the Broncos quarterback of the present but possibly the man under center for years to come, should he land in Denver.

Clough said that the Broncos have been impressed with McCarron since the former two-time national champion at the University of Alabama, came into Denver during the 2015 season and gave the Broncos a scare on the team’s road to a Super Bowl 50 title.

“Among the final five quarterbacks the Broncos played on the way to a Super Bowl title in Santa Clara in February of 2016, other than Ben Roethlisberger, probably, against the ‘No Fly Zone’ AJ McCarron did the best job,” Clough said, “and the Broncos have been impressed with him ever since.”

However, two obstacles could hold up any possible deal, Clough said, among which is that as many as seven other teams also have an interest in McCarron.

Also, the Broncos would be dealing with Bengals owner and lead executive Mike Brown, who put the brakes on Denver bringing in Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator ahead of the 2015 season.

Joseph, who worked as the defensive backs coach for the Bengals during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, was hired as Denver’s head coach in January.

In two seasons with the Bengals, McCarron has played in eight games, starting three with a 2-1 record. He’s completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 854 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions, garnering a quarterback rating of 97.1.